Making Do With Less

Running a tractor, sprayer or combine all day doesn't keep Dan Huebner from pushing himself a lot further - on foot, by bike and in the water.

The Hershey, NE, corn, soybean and wheat grower takes part in regional triathlons. He may be planting a field one day, then thrashing through a running-cycling-swimming course the next.

“I actually just do the short ones,” he says, noting that he hasn't yet tried the most testing triathalons, like the Iron Man in Hawaii, the famous “escape from Alcatraz” or the Lake Placid, NY, trek.

But by short, he means swimming up to 800 meters, then riding a bike 15 miles, then running an 8K.

Whew!

Like most distance runners, cyclists or swimmers, Huebner does all three to relax. He also stays in top shape through his training schedule.

“I'll probably run 12-15 miles a week,” he says. “In the winter, I may ride my bike 40-50 miles a week. I also swim a lot at a local recreation center.”

He stresses he isn't a serious competitor and competes mainly for fun and to “stay in shape.”

His wife Allison also can't sit still. She, too, pushes her running skills against the clock. She even braves a mega-marathon race that tests her endurance with a run from Omaha to Lincoln, NE - just a short 45-50 miles. That's on top of raising five children, ages seven to 13, and helping Dan with harvest at crunch time.

“We also do what we call an adventure race, in which you bike, run and canoe to numerous checkpoints,” says Huebner.

Look out Lake Placid. The Huebners might come calling some day, for a little pavement pounding, peddle churning and water plowing relaxation - when the fieldwork is finished.